Stylish Celebrity Escapism
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Mar 28
'08
The latest Scientologist is…

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The Sun reports that Pete Doherty’s new girlfriend, DJ Nadine Ruddy, is into Scientology and that he has bought a bunch of books from the cult to try and learn more about it. If Doherty was just an average, unknown musician/former drug addict/low level criminal, he would simply be put on a mailing list after buying Scientology books. Now that the word is out that a semi-famous person is interested, those dead-eye creeps are going to after him with a vengeance.

The junkie rocker is hooked on the barmy religion which believes humans are an exiled race from outer space.

Babyshambles frontman Pete, 29 — who once dated supermodel KATE MOSS — has bought a pile of books on the subject since meeting Scientologist DJ NADINE RUDDY.

And he has been leaving his Wiltshire mansion to stay at her home in Reading, Berks, at least once a week.

A source said: “Nadine is really into Scientology. She takes her beliefs very seriously.

“Pete’s chatted a lot with her about it. He went out and bought some books to read up about it.

“He just wanted to find out more about Nadine and what she believes in.”

[From The Sun]

Despite all of Doherty’s very public failings: injecting a passed out girl with drugs (he claimed he was taking her blood for his art, which is somewhat less creepy), giving his cat crack, squirting blood at an MTV camera, all the drugs he’s been busted with, I kind of have a soft spot for the guy. He doesn’t seem all that bad, and when you check out his boyish face and ignore the messed-up teeth and greasy hair you can sort of see how some skinny half-wit models fell for him.

Best wishes to Doherty to come out of this with his critical thinking skills and wallet intact. Dump that girl, Pete, there are other confused young women who are into harmless new-agey stuff who would be pleased to shag you.

Posted in Cults, Pete Doherty

Written by Celebitchy         17 Comments »
Mar 18
'08
Will Smith still claiming he’s not a Scientologist

Apparently being called a Scientologist is just about the worst name you can be called in Hollywood these days – aside from being called Lindsay Lohan or something. And while that makes a lot of sense, you’d think that if people didn’t want to be called Scientologists, they wouldn’t partake in so many Scientology-related activities. The internet is abuzz with the news that Radar magazine is about to publish a cover story on celebrities involved with the dreaded church. But instead of focusing on the usual targets (Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley), they’re focusing their article on some possible recent converts to the religion. The biggest suspects are Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith, though the magazine also mentions Kimora Lee Simmons – who has already denied any affiliation with the cult.

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett and Kimora Lee Simmons are loudly denying Radar magazine’s claims that they’ve been recruited into — dun dun dun! — the Church of Scientology. Smith, a good buddy of Scientology poster boy Tom Cruise, denies he is a church member. “You don’t have to be Jewish to be a friend of Steven Spielberg. You don’t have to be a Muslim to be a friend of Muhammad Ali. And you don’t have to be a Scientologist to be a friend of Tom Cruise,” Smith tells us. “I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions. And I respect all people and all paths.”

[From Rush & Molloy]

I cannot tell you how much Will Smith’s response annoys me… because it’s totally fair. He’s phrased it in such a way that I really can’t justify poking holes in it. That doesn’t necessarily mean I believe him, but he’s certainly right – being friends with someone of a different religion in no way means you’ve converted. One of the better arguments that Smith has converted is that Scientologists are generally encouraged to associate only with other Scientologists. The rest of us are supposed to have demon souls or something. But hanging out with someone open and accepting of the religion, as Smith claims to be, might be considered okay. But you’ll have a hard time convincing me that Tommy’s not putting the full court press on Will.

Here’s Will and Jada with their kids and Tom Cruise at the “I Am Legend” premiere on December 11th, 2007. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Posted in Cults, Jada Pinkett Smith, Kimora Simmons, Tom Cruise, Will Smith

Written by JayBird         18 Comments »
Mar 14
'08
Scientologists Celebrate Tom Cuise’s birthday with cruise ship blowout

cruiseship.jpg
Gawker has a new video of Tom Cruise’s birthday party on the Scientology Cruise Ship. It features footage of the band playing the theme songs from Top Gun and Mission Impossible while Cruise whoops and claps in the front row. Then Cruise takes the stage to sing a duet of “That Old Time Rock and Roll.” He jams out with the singer, jumps around, and looks like he’s having a great time.

In the Church of Scientology’s statement on the Andrew Morton bio they say that Tom Cruise does not hold any position of authority in the church, but Gawker points out that they’re willing to spend what must be at least six figures on this party for him.

The thing is, this video is fun and not that damning if you forget that the Scientologists are involved. Watching this, I was thinking “I wonder if everyone who works on that ship is a damn Scientologist. Is that singer a Scientologist? Can anyone escape their love bomb?” You know if Tom Cruise were talking Scientology to me I would probably look down at his wild sexy eyes and just smile and nod, losing all that pent up suppressive knowledge and anger. Damn you, Gawker, for making cults look like they have fun in between taking money and making people disown their families.

The video seems to be taken from a DVD of Scientology moments, because you can see someone chose from a menu at the beginning and there are small icons of Tom Cruise. Maybe Gawker has their hands on that DVD and is going to release more clips next week. Please let that be the case. And no more party videos. We want more speeches we don’t understand about things we’ll never grasp unless we embrace the program and surrender all our worldly goods and critical thinking skills.

You can watch the Tom Cruise party video at Gawker.com.

Update: This clip is undated, and seems to pre-date Tom’s relationship with Katie Holmes.

Posted in Cults, Tom Cruise

Written by Celebitchy         38 Comments »
Mar 3
'08
John Travolta pushes Scientology to cure Jeff Conaway’s drug addiction

Thank goodness Scientology is around to cure all of society’s ills. Who needs a professional psychologist or addiction medicine expert to help you battle your increasingly debilitating drug addictions when Xenu can jiggle your brain juices around and spruce you right up? Jeff Conaway, star of such hits as “Grease,” “Taxi,” and more recently “Celebrity Rehab” has had quite the challenge sobering up on the reality show. In fact it’s been downright painful to watch him, and has served as a pretty brutal reminder why it’s a good idea to avoid drugs all together. Jeff was wheelchair-bound for much of the show, and suffered horrible convulsions. Most of his speech had to be subtitled for viewers, and it was nearly incomprehensible. He had to be admitted to the hospital for detox almost immediately. Unfortunately Jeff didn’t complete the program, and left after the seventh episode. Over the years he’s been a frequent patient of Dr. Drew Pinsky’s, the host of “Celebrity Rehab.” But apparently all Jeff really needed was a little help from Xenu’s brain-reading machines, because he claims Scientology has finally cured him.

Inside Edition sat down for an exclusive interview with former Taxi star Jeff Conaway, who says he has finally kicked his drug habit by practicing Scientology. According to Conaway, “I’ve been doing Scientology…my doctor was like, Holy cow, he says whatever you’ve been doing keep doing it because it’s really working.”

Conaway says his former Grease co-star John Travolta introduced him to the controversial religion. “John and I stayed friends but he couldn’t watch me going down the tubes…he gave me a whole library of Scientology books and he’s given me an auditor who comes almost every day.”

Conaway, who lost over 40 pounds while participating in VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, tells Inside Edition he can’t wait to get back in front of the camera. “I’m going to be strong and healthy and totally together. I’ve got to get ready for my Academy Award.”

[From Inside Edition]

Something tells me the doctor Conaway is referencing is not the good Dr. Drew – who I will admit I have a daddy-issue-based crush on, but I’m sure would spit in the face of Scientology regardless. It’s great that Conaway’s talking positively and expecting big things of himself, a la Academy Awards. But I seriously doubt something as illegitimate as Narconon (Scientology’s anti-drug program, which is named to make it sound legitimate – note that it’s “onon” not “anon” as in all the Alcoholics Anonymous-based programs) magically cured all of Conaway’s many complex addictions. The man was like a walking anti drug ad. Mostly because he literally couldn’t even walk. They should show clips of him to kids in the DARE program. As much as I’d champion anything that helps someone battle such life-destroying demons, let’s not be fooled into thinking drinking some barely water and popping some vitamins has cured the poor guy. Clearly he’s desperate for some kind of change, and that’s great. But it means it’s time to call up a good rehab facility, not John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

Here is Jeff Conaway and his girlfriend Vikki Lizzi at the 18th Annual Night of 100 Stars Gala Viewing Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 24th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Posted in Addictions, Cults, Dr. Drew, Drugs, Jeff Conaway, John Travolta

Written by JayBird         See post for comments
Feb 28
'08
Is Gwyneth Paltrow into Kabbalah? She was seen there twice


There was a photo in this week’s OK! Magazine of Gwyneth Paltrow out with Apple, 3, and Moses, 22 months, on Feburary 9th in NY. It was captioned “Gwyneth Paltrow, 35, visits the Kabbalah Centre in NYC with her children.”

It was the second time that Paltrow had been seen at the Kabbalah Centre this month. She was photographed sneaking out a week earlier on February 1.

Is Paltrow about to get bilked by Hollywood’s second favorite cult? It’s possible. She might have just been visiting her good buddy Maddona there. The “Raising Malawai” star-studded fundraiser for Madonna’s charity was held on February 6, and Madonna would have been in town around that time. Paltrow didn’t wear a red string bracelet to the event, but since she went to the cult headquarters twice it makes it seem like something is up.

Back in 2004 there was a story that Paltrow had pissed off Madonna by rejecting Kabbalah, but maybe the bossy pop star gradually wore her down with promises of stress-free days and a newfound purpose in life. Paltrow seems susceptible to that type of spiritual hokum.

Paltrow has a new public service announcement out for UNICEF. She provides the voice over for a clip emphasizing the need for medication in the third world to prevent the mother to baby transmission of AIDS.

She is shown outside Madonna’s Raising Malawai fundraiser on February 6, thanks to PRPhotos.

Posted in Cults, Good Causes, Gwyneth Paltrow

Written by Celebitchy         See post for comments
Feb 28
'08
Scientology insider says she was online trying to stop detractors

tory.gifWhenever we write anything remotely critical of Scientology we invariably have new commentors chiming in saying that there’s some sort of religious bigotry involved and attacking other people on the thread and the authors. It’s pretty obvious these people are cult members although they deny it when questioned. We now may have our answer with insider information about how Scientology goes about trying to silence critics on the Internet.

Tory Christman was a member of the “church” of Scientology from 1969 to 2000, and reached the upper levels of the organization, having achieved OT7, or Operating Thetan Level 7. She said she worked her way up through Scientology and was able to pay for courses through an inheritance from her mother in law, who was also a cult member. She was cut off and declared a suppressive person when she started to question the way the cult operates, including limiting the reading material of members and ordering her to stop taking her epilepsy medication, which resulted in Grand Mal seizures. She’s dedicated to exposing the abuses of the cult, and although she’s not a member of the group anonymous who is currently organizing worldwide protests against Scientology, she’s encouraged by their efforts.

Christman has been interviewed by CNN and NPR and has been quoted in the LA Times. In a radio interview with “Point of Inquiry,” a weekly show produced by the Center for Inquiry in Buffalo, NY, Christman described how she was actively involved in silencing detractors on the Internet using multiple screen names and accounts:

You were part of the opposition to free speech [on the Internet]
Exactly, I didn’t know it, because they’re very good at lying and tricking people and that’s how they get people to do things, and they said “We can’t tell you, ’cause you’ll end up in deposition if we tell you. So you just go open these anonymous accounts and we’re going to do what we’re going to do to handle these evil, horrible people,” and I was like “ok” and I was kind of like, It was my best friend, I trusted this guy implicitly, right? So I was doing it, I’m opening these accounts, they had scared all Scientologists off of the Internet, so no one was reading the Internet, and really frankly they put a Net Nanny on the Internet so none of us could read the Internet. If you typed in anything the bad stuff wouldn’t come up.

In the 90s, I was part of that. They tried to shut down a newsgroup where people who had left Scientology were talking about Scientology, and Scientology themselves tried to crash that newsgroup…

I was OT 7 and I was in their top secret gang, right? Which is on the Internet and still is to this day I’m pretty sure covertly lying about trying to distract free speech off the Internet that had anything they didn’t want seen on the ‘net, they’re trying to drive it off the ‘net or put down anybody who says anything negative about Scientology…

I was in their top secret gang, where I was opening up these phony accounts… They’re complaining about anonymous. It’s like Hang on! These guys are way more covert, doing way more nastier things.

[Transcribed from mp3 of interview on Point of Inquiry’s web site]

Christman came off as sincere and dedicated to exposing Scientology’s abuses. She said it’s not about the belief system, which isn’t any stranger than any other religion as many people point out, but about the way the cult cuts people off from their family members, denies them needed medication, and threatens and harasses detractors. Scientologists regularly make up wild claims and spread rumors trying to discredit anyone that dares to question them, and sue and threaten people they consider enemies under the “fair game” doctrine proposed by failed science fiction writer and founder, L Ron Hubbard. There are also many suspicious deaths and suicides of former cult members and critics, as Christman points out in her interview.

As for Scientology members themselves, Christman said that of course there were kind and friendly people involved in the cult. She compared their situation to the movie “The Truman Show,” in which you’re going through the motions in a closed set without knowing what’s going on behind the scenes. She told interviewer D.J. Groethe that she never had any kind of discussion with fellow members questioning the tactics of the organization during her 30 years of involvement. She said “It’s a high crime to speak about Xenu in Scientology. They can declare me an SP [suppressive person.]” Once you’re declared a suppressive person, you’re cut off entirely.

The group Anonymous continues to fight the abuses of Scientology, with particular attention to the way the cult tries to cut free speech online. In a press released they declared:

The so-called Church of Scientology actively misused copyright and trademark law in pursuit of its own agenda … They attempted not only to subvert free speech, but to recklessly pervert justice to silence those who spoke out against them.

Update:
Here’s a link to Tory Christman’s Website and her YouTube Channel
And to Enturbulation.org, where you can learn more about Scientology. The next major protest is planned for March 15.

Posted in Cults

Written by Celebitchy         See post for comments
Feb 22
'08
Tom Cruise tells Rosie O’Donnell off for reading Morton bio


According to Mike Walker in the National Enquirer, who isn’t the most reliable source but manages to come up with zingers about the celebrities every week (which would probably be impossible if all of it was true), Rosie O’Donnell pissed off pint-sized Tom Cruise by telling him that she read the very unflattering biography of him recently put out by Andrew Morton. The story is that when Rosie ran into Cruise at Madonna’s Kabbalah fundraiser, she blurted out that she had read the book but didn’t believe any of it. Tom got pissed that she had even read it and had the tenacity to tell him about it, and stormed off:

Rosie O’Donnell… rushed up to her idol Tom Cruise, planted a wet kiss… and instantly stuck a foot in her big, fat mouth! Babbling about Brit muckraker Andrew Morton’s controversial new Cruise bio, Rosie barked: “I bought that book, but don’t worry, Tommy - I don’t believe a word in it!” Stunned and speechless, the InterGalactic Lord of Cruise Control finally gasped: “You actually went out and paid money for that book? I can’t believe you’d buy that book - and then actually read it!” Sputtered Rosie: “I - I had to read it… so I could give my opinion if I was asked about it.”

My spywitness says Tom lashed back: “No one cares about your opinion. I don’t care about your opinion!” He grabbed wife Katie Holmes’ arm and stormed off, leaving Rosie red-faced [and] humiliated.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, Mike Walker’s column, March 3, 2008]

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Sounds like someone is pretty touchy about that book if this story is true. In this photo that came out of Rosie posing with Madonna, Lourdes, Tom and Katie, Rosie is off to the side but everyone looks perfectly happy. Rosie blogged after the event that:

my tommy was there
handsome as ever
he makes me smile
i love that guy

[Rosie’s blog via Just Jared]

You would think that Tom would handle that better, but maybe not. As it is, this story sounds fake and there’s not much evidence for it, but it’s juicy enough that we couldn’t resist reporting it.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are shown in the header image at the First Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood event on 2/21/08, thanks to Splash News. They must’ve been working the crowd for Xenu. I really don’t like Katie’s hair like that. She’s one of the only celebrities who works the helmet hair, so she should embrace that and not mess with it like that. Those curls don’t suit her. She used to look so young with long hair.

Posted in Cults, Katie Holmes, Rosie O'Donnell, Tom Cruise

Written by Celebitchy         See post for comments
Feb 11
'08
Companies named in Scientology video deny affliation; Global protests

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On Friday we posted a video from a late 2006 Scientology rally featuring head David Miscavige proclaiming how his cult was helping quash psychiatry while taking responsibility for the media backlash against the dangers of antidepressants. Later in the video he claimed the Baby Phat head Kimora Lee Simmons was distributing Scientology literature in the inner city, a claim her rep denies. Then he stepped even further out on a limb and said that certain multinational corporations were also responsible for distributing the Scientology packet, “The Way To Happiness.” He said to an auditorium full of cheering Scientologists, accompanied by a big-screen video, that specific corporations were helping spread the word throughout the world:

Then there’s our corporate tie-ins. The multi-nationals seem to have third world image problems, so this is what they’re doing about it. Coca Cola Pakistan with a braille edition for the blind - nationally televised, no less. Philips Electronics, likewise all over Pakistan, and Dell Computers all over Africa. Then there’s the power of Way to Happiness right in the marketplace. As in the big retail chains, who have an obvious vested interest to cut shoplifting. And when you’re talking frontline retail, you can’t get much bigger than 7-Eleven. So here’s a few of their 4,000 plus outlets across Taiwan.

[Transcribed from video available on YouTube]

The Director of Corporate Communications at Philips Electronics graciously responded to our request for comment saying that their company definitely has no affiliation with Scientology and he is happy to clear up any misconception that may have been spread by the video.

We have indeed investigated this and can confirm that there is absolutely no relationship between our business and the Church of Scientology.

I hope this helps clarify things for you and we really appreciate the opportunity to confirm that we have no affiliation with this group.

[From Philip’s Corporate Communications director, sent via E-mail]

The LATimes’ Web Scout blog also received comments from Philips and two of the other corporations named in the video, who likewise deny any ties to the cult:

So I made a couple of calls to the communications departments of companies named in the latest leaked video. Here’s what they’re saying:

Dell Inc. spokesman: “This came to our attention yesterday. We did research it with our colleagues in our Europe, Middle East and Africa business segment and with our colleagues in South Africa. We found no evidence that this is accurate, and it’s not our practice to disseminate religious materials of any kind. We’ve got no affiliation with the Church of Scientology.”

7/11 spokeswoman: “My international department believes that it’s unfounded and inaccurate. But we’ve got to follow up with our licensee and get to the bottom of it.”

Philips Electronics spokesman: “We were as stunned as anybody this morning. It’s not something we were aware of. As an equal opportunity employer, religion is not something we comment on.”

[From LA Times’ Web Scout blog]

Web Scout goes on to note that Miscavige doesn’t use any verbs in that section where he seems to claim that companies are distributing Scientology literature. He just names them off while only implying that they’re responsible for disseminating Scientology information, and never directly states it.

The only company yet to comment is Coca Cola, and Web Scout notes that “Other entities named in the video are investigating the matter before commenting.”

Several other internal Scientology videos have been leaked in the past few weeks, one of which featured Tom Cruise babbling on for 9 minutes using a lot of words and abbreviations only known to cult members. He talked about how Scientology could “bring peace” and “unite cultures,” and how “When you’re a Scientologist, and you drive by an accident, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you’re the only one who can really help.”

Unlike the earlier videos, this video of the late 2006 Scientology event has remained up on YouTube. Maybe the cult has reluctantly realized that you can’t control the Internet, and that your lies will catch up with you sooner or later.

Global protests against Scientology took place yesterday in cities around the world including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Washington, Toronto, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Stockholm, Edinburgh, London, Brighton, Leeds, Manchester and Dublin. The protests were organized by the Internet-based group Anonymous, which has used the Internet and YouTube to help spread the word about the dangers of the cult. Protestors wore masks to conceal their identities, as Scientology is known for harassing and suing detractors. In LA the organizer of the event said “We want to set off a government investigation into how [Scientology] got tax-exempt status.” The event was covered by newspapers and media outlets throughout the world, including the LA Times, CTV, News.com.au, and News.scotsman.com.

Thanks to News.com.au for the header image.

Posted in Cults

Written by Celebitchy         See post for comments
Feb 8
'08
Scientologists falsely claim Kimora Lee Simmons hands out their literature

simons.JPG

Another embarrassing, mind-boggling Scientology video is circulating throughout the web, and this one is garnering attention not just for the ridiculous crap spewed by cult leader David Miscavige, but also because he makes up complete lies - like the assertion that Kimora Lee Simmons is a Scientologists and hands out their ridiculous propaganda book “Way to Happiness” in the “inner cities” of New Jersey and Los Angeles. Kimora is not only not a Scientologists, she had no idea her image was being used.

Kimora Lee Simmons — celebrity designer, ex-wife of Russell Simmons and great beauty — is not happy with Scientology.

On Thursday, we had to call her press person and inform her that Kimora is being featured in a new Scientology promotional video. The sect’s chief, David Miscavige, can be seen in the video telling followers that Simmons has been distributing the group’s “Way to Happiness” propaganda pamphlet in New Jersey and Los Angeles. He tells the gathering that to reach new recruits 12 to 18 years old, they can do better than Simmons, who “funnels booklets” in the aforementioned locales. On the screen behind him, Simmons’ face is shown.

Only one problem, though, Simmons’ publicist told me on Thursday while her client was traveling. “I’ve asked everyone,” said the flack. “Kimora is not a Scientologist. We have nothing to do with this.” Of course, Miscavige also claims support in the video for Scientology from Philips Electronics in Pakistan, Dell computers “all over Africa,” Coca-Cola Pakistan, 7-Eleven in Taiwan and Ecuador’s postal system. He says that 70 million people are reading or in possession of “Way to Happiness.”

[From Fox News via the Huffington Post]

I feel badly for Kimora. There are few things as embarrassing as being called a Scientologist. I would much rather have a sex tape scandal than a Scientology scandal. There are about 83 reasons I would never believe Kimora Lee Simmons could be a Scientologist. First off, everyone knows she’s a demanding, crazy diva. No way would she back down to anyone. Second, instinct tells me that she can - and would - squash Tom Cruise like a bug, just for the hell of it. I don’t want to go all Tyra Banks, but Kimora is one of the few women I would call fierce. Scientologists are crazy, and I normally have a pretty healthy fear of them. But in this case, they all better run, because you do not freaking mess with Kimora Lee Simmons.

Here’s the Scientology video that will probably result in Kimora lighting the Celebrity Centre on fire. While the crap about Kimora is around the six-minute mark, I urge you to watch the whole thing, if for nothing else than the laugh factor.

Posted in Cults, David Miscavige, Kimora Simmons

Written by JayBird         See post for comments
Feb 7
'08
Madonna’s Kabbalah, I mean “Raising Malawai” event, with lots of celebrities


Plenty of celebrities showed up for Maddona’s “Raising Malawai” foundation benefit, sponsored by Gucci. There was negative press claiming that the organization was just a front for the Jew-ish cult that has Madonna brainwashed, Kabbalah. Raising Malawai wasn’t even registered as it’s own charity, and all mail and donations for the organization go directly to the controversial Kabbalah church. It was thought that Madonna had duped the event’s sponsors, Gucci and the UN, into hosting a fundraiser for her cult. Madonna denied those allegations, saying the application was in the mail and why should she have to wait to throw a huge charity event until her organization was legitimate?

It looks like a lot of people agreed with her, because there was a big star turnout at the event last night. The Washington Post blew off the criticism of the event, saying it was “mostly bloggers” who thought there was something fishy with Raising Malawai, but there was also criticism of the fact that Gucci just happens to be opening a new store tomorrow in New York. It is thought that the UN, by hosting the event on it’s grounds, is somehow selling out by being associated with the exclusive brand. Gucci reps said “it’s a coincidence that we happen to be here and we’re opening an important store on Friday.”

Madonna said that she’s not worried about criticism, she’s faced it all her life, and besides, at least people are still talking about her. If you read her response to the question, she seems to reveal a desire to convert people rather than just accept money for her charity. She said “I don’t want them to just write me a check: I want them to give me a piece of their heart.” It sounds well-intentioned, but it does come off like she’s hoping to convert some big names that night. Hey, the Seinfelds were there, they seem open to it.

“I don’t really pay any attention to that. I am grateful that Gucci has underwritten this event — that’s all that matters to me — their generosity. There’s always controversy surrounding anything that involves change,” Madonna told Reuters.

“I want to put Raising Malawi on the map. I want credibility as a philanthropic organization. I want to inspire people. I don’t want them to just write me a check: I want them to give me a piece of their heart,” she said.

[From The Washington Post]

Raising Malawai sets up orphanages for children in the nation of Malawai, where Madonna adopted a one-year old boy, David Banda, in October, 2006 amid controversy that she was flouting the country’s strict adoption rules. Raising Malawai teaches Madonna’s unique brand of spiritualism to the children as part of the curriculum at the schools Madonna is setting up.

Here are pictures from last night including Madonna and Lourdes, a very pregnant Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, a mildly pregnant Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, TomKat, Rihanna, Heidi Klum in a too-short dress with pockets, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, who haven’t strayed far from the fold despite the rumors, Kate Hudson still wearing loose outfits, Salma Hayek looking hot, Gweneth Paltrow in a too-short pink dress with a big ‘ol bow, Dita Von Teese, and Nelly Furtado.

Also there but not pictured were Rosie O’Donnell, Martha Stewart, P. Diddy, Rebecca gayheart and Eric Dane, Deborah Messing, Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou, Brooke Shields, Ali Larter, Cassie, Pharrell Williams, Cynthia Nixon, Lucy Liu, Nigo, Molly Sims, and Donald and Melania Trump.

The Gucci CEO reported before the night was even complete that they had collected over $3.7 million to feed, clothe and convert the orphans of Malawai. I guess it’s not as bad as Scientology, but people are similarly enslaved and isolated from their families working for Kabbalah. I just hope it’s a kinder, gentler form of the religion that’s pushed on these young children. Missionaries go in to third world nations hoping to come out with new converts, I suppose this isn’t any different. Still you wish that help could come to people who need it the most without any red strings attached.

Thanks to WENN and Splash News for these photos.

Posted in Cults, Madonna

Written by Celebitchy         See post for comments
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